Chapter 10 - Quotations & Attributions

What should you use a direct quotation? What are the reasons for using it?

Direct - Reporters use direct quotations when their sources say something important or controversial or state their ideas in a colorful manner. The best quotations are often short and full of emotion.

• Reasons for using direct quotations:

  • To let the sources talk directly to the reader.

  • To tie a controversial opinion to the source.

  • To provide evidence for a statement.

  • To reveal the speaker’s character.

  • To give the speaker’s exact words when you cannot improve on them.

When should you use an indirect quotation? What are the reasons for using it?

Indirect - Reporters use indirect quotations when sources fail to state their ideas effectively. Indirect quotations allow reporters to rephrase sources’ remarks and state them more clearly and concise.

• Reasons for using indirect quotations:

  • To simplify complex or technical language

  • To improve writing flow and voice

  • To extract data cleanly.

Avoid quotations—direct or indirect—that state the obvious or let sources praise themselves.

When should you use a partial quotation?

Partial - Reporters may use partial quotations to attribute more clearly controversial, important or interesting phrases to a source.

What is an orphan quote?

Orphan quote - A quotation that is dropped into a text without any contextual introduction, explanation, or clear attribution.

When Sources Seek Quote Approval

• Sources often ask that information be kept off the record or on background (the information can be used, but the source cannot be named or quoted in the story).

  • Lately, they have been making a new demand: the opportunity to approve specific quotations that appear in the stories.

• Remember that allowing sources to approve or edit quotations drains interview stories of their spontaneity and humanity.

  • The result is a story that portrays the sources and the issues less accurately and completely.

To Change or Not to Change Quotations

• A source may use words inappropriate for a news story; reporters may be tempted to alter these words to make the quotation usable. There is some debate on whether journalists should make changes.

  • Using a source’s exact words eliminates questions about accuracy.

• A reporter should paraphrase a quotation if it is so ungrammatical that it becomes difficult to understand.

  • Other situations involve the deletion of unnecessary words and profanities.

    • Reporters usually omit profanities from quotations because children may read and listen to the news.

• Avoid unintentional editorials.

  • If worded carelessly, partial quotations, and even the form of attribution used, can express an opinion.

Attribution & Where to place it

• Attribution lets the readers know who the reporter’s sources are.

  • Ideally, all direct quotations, opinions, evaluations and secondhand statements of fact should be attributed to specific individuals.

• Cannot attribute information to places or institutions.

Where you place attribution:

• Attribution may be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence or at a natural break within it.

• Should appear as early as conveniently possible because readers should never have to guess who is speaking.

Direct Quotation Attribution

• A direct quotation should be attributed only once, regardless of the number of sentences it contains.

  • Example: Wendy Mitchell, a sociologist, said there is a trend toward vocationalism on college campuses.

Partial Quotation Attribution

• When writers quote part of a sentence, they should separate it from complete sentences that are also being quoted.

  • Combining partial and complete quotations sometimes causes confusing pronoun shifts.

    • This can be avoided by either placing attribution between the partial quotation and the full-sentence quotation or paraphrasing the partial quotation.

  • Example: Ross said he expects to find a job “within a few weeks.” He added, “And when I do get a job, the first thing I’m going to buy is a new car.”

Indirect Quotation Attribution

• Indirect quotations need more frequent attribution than do direct quotations.

  • Every opinion or unverified fact in an indirect quotation must be attributed.

  • Example: The suspect escaped through a rear window just minutes before officers arrived at the scene, according to a police spokesperson.

Often the most effective location for attribution is after the first natural pause in the sentence.

Identifying Sources

• Occasionally, reporters use sources who want their identities concealed.

  • They will speak only on background—sometimes called not-for-attribution—meaning the reporter can quote the sources directly but cannot use their names.

• Why do stories use anonymous sources?

  • They keep sources safe from losing their jobs, facing legal trouble, or being harmed.

Avoid These Things

• Avoid using orphan quotes.

• Avoid fabricating a fake quote - may ruin someone’s life.

• Avoid using “scare quotes” - to imply that someone is lying or incompetent.

• Avoid “peppering” sentences with inserted explanations because the stories become difficult to read.

• Avoid inserting phrases that attribute a quotation twice.